Mike York and Rustyn Dolyny put MSU up 3-2 with a power play goal late in the second.

MARCH 28, 1998

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Michigan State Spartans 4-3 in overtime in game three of the 1998 NCAA Ice Hockey West Regional at Yost Ice Arena to advance to the Final Four Thursday, April 2.Ohio State scored the game-winning goal with 8:47 left in the first overtime period off a counter attack following two great Michigan State scoring chances. Hugo Boisvert picked up the loose puck in his own zone, skated through the neutral zone, crossed the blueline, and slid a pass to Eric Meloche, who streaked down the left boards. Meloche skated to the goalline and tried to center a pass across the goal crease, but Michigan State goaltender Chad Alban poke checked the pass away. The puck carried to Andre Signoretti at the bottom of the faceoff circle to the left of Alban.

Signoretti took a slapshot which beat the Michigan State goalie to the stick side for his second goal of the game and fifth of the season. The loss ends a spectacular season for Michigan State. The Spartans won the CCHA regular-season and playoff championship for the first time since 1989-90, the only team in the nation to win both the regular season and playoff titles in their conference this year.

Ohio State nearly won the game in regulation, but Alban made a spectacular save with 47.8 seconds left in the third period to keep the game tied at 3-3. The Buckeyes came down on a 2-on-1 rush and Chris Richards made a greatmove to get around the Spartan defender and drew Alban over to him. Richards slid the puck to Todd Compeau streaking down the middle of the ice. Compeau redirected the pass toward the far post but Alban dove across the crease to make the save and cover the rebound.

Ohio State sent the game into overtime with a rebound shot 5:43 into the third period. Tyler McMillan skated through the neutral zone, crossed the blueline, and unleashed a high hard blast. Alban made the save, but the rebound came out to Neal Rech who chipped the puck over the fallen Alban for his sixth goal of the season.

Michigan State jumped out to a 1-0 lead with 1:26 left in the first period off a power-play goal from Brad Hodgins. Jeff Kozakowski passed the puck to Mike York at Ohio State's left post. York was tied up and could not get off a shot, but spun around and made a perfect cross ice pass to Hodgins cutting in from the point to the top of the faceoff circle. Hodgins took the pass in stride and blasted a low shot through a thick screen which beat Ohio State goaltender Jeff Maund to the stick side for his second goal of the season.

The Spartans extended their lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal 6:10 into the second period. Shawn Horcoff made a pass from the left point to Mike Weaver cutting in from the left boards to the side of the net. Weaver redirected the pass past Maund for his fifth goal of the season.

Ohio State cut its defecit to one 43 seconds later with a Signoretti blast from the blueline off a Richards faceoff win. Richards cleanly won the draw to the left of the Michigan State goal back to Signoretti, who set up along the boards. Signoretti blasted a low hard shot which beat Alban for his fourth goal of the season.

Ohio State goaltender Jeff Maund helped his own cause as he started the Buckeyes power-play breakaway. Michigan State cleared the zone, but Maund skated out of his crease to play the puck and made a long pass down the right boards to Boisvert past center ice. Boisvert crossed the blueline and slid a pass to Meloche streaking down center ice, creating a breakaway opportunity. Meloche made a head fake on Alban and slid the puck stick side past the Spartans goalie for his 26th goal of the season to tie the game at 2-2 with 8:35 left in the middle period.

Michigan State regained a one goal lead, 3-2, on their third power-play goal of the game with 2:37 left in the second period. Sean Berens took the puck from the corner to the left of the Ohio State goal, skated behind the goalline, and tried to jam the puck inside the left post. Maund made the initial save, but the puck came loose in the crease. Rustyn Dolyny picked up the loose puck and fired it into the net for his 20th goal of the season.

Post-game Quotes

Michigan State Head Coach Ron Mason

(On the game overall)"I would like to congratulate coach Markell and Ohio State and wish them all the success from here on out. At least one CCHA team will be in the final four and I think they will represent us well."

(On the year Michigan State has had)"I am proud of how this team has played all year and especially tonight, because we played very well in defeat. This team a won conference title and two tournament titles and that is very special and is something they should be proud of. What makes me the most proud is that this group brought Michigan State back to national prominence."

(On Ohio State's chances in the final four) "They have as good a chance as any, especially with a goalie who has a hot hand. If he continues to do the things he has been doing than they can beat anybody."

Michigan State defenseman Tyler Harlton

(On Ohio State's tenacity)"Ohio State deserves a lot of credit, especially their whole program coming from where they were when I was a freshman. They battle on the boards and fight for the loose pucks which is why they deserved to win the game."

Scoring Summary

Final Score: No. 4 Ohio State 4, No. 1 Michigan State 3 (Overtime)

PERIOD 1:18:34 - MSU: Brad Hodgins (2) PP from Mike York and Jeff Kozakowski Michigan State jumped out to a 1-0 lead off a power-play goal from Brad Hodgins. Jeff Kozakowski passed the puck to Mike York at Ohio State's left post. York was tied up and could not get off a shot, but spun around and made a perfect cross ice pass to Hodgins cutting in from the point to the top of the faceoff circle. Hodgins took the pass in stride and blasted a low shot through a thick screen which beat Ohio State goaltender Jeff Maund to the stick side for his second goal of the season.

PERIOD 2:6:10 - MSU: Mike Weaver (5) PP from Shawn Horcoff and Mike York On the power-play, Shawn Horcoff made a pass from the left point to Mike Weaver cutting in from the left boards to the side of the net. Weaver redirected the pass past Ohio State goaltender Jeff Maund for his fifth goal of the season and a 2-0 Michigan State lead.

6:53 - OSU: Andre Signoretti (4) from Chris Richards Ohio State cut its defect to one with a Andre Signoretti blast from the blueline off a Chris Richards faceoff win. Richards cleanly won the draw to the left of the Michigan State goal back to Signoretti, who set up along the boards. Signoretti blasted a low hard shot which beat Michigan State goaltender Chad Alban for his fourth goal of the season.

11:25 - OSU: Eric Meloche (26) PP from Hugo Boisvert and Jeff Maund Ohio State goaltender Jeff Maund helped his own cause as he started the Buckeyes power-play breakaway. Michigan State cleared the zone, but Maund skated out of his crease to play the puck and made a long pass down the right boards to Hugo Boisvert past center ice. Boisvert crossed the blueline and slid a pass to Eric Meloche streaking down center ice, creating a breakaway opportunity. Meloche made a head fake on Michigan State goaltender Chad Alban and slid the puck stick side past the Spartans goalie for his 26th goal of the season to tie the game at 2-2.

17:23 - MSU: Rustyn Dolyny (20) PP from Sean Berens and Mike York Michigan State regained a one goal lead, 3-2, with their third power-play goal of the game. Sean Berens took the puck from the corner to the left of the Ohio State goal, skated behind the goalline, and tried to jam the puck inside the left post. Ohio State goaltender Jeff Maund made the initial save, but the puck came loose in the crease. Rustyn Dolyny picked up the loose puck and fired it into the net for his 20th goal of the season.

PERIOD 3:5:43 - OSU: Neal Rech (6) from Tyler McMillan Ohio State tied the game at 3-3 off a rebound goal from Neal Rech. Tyler McMillan skated through the neutral zone, crossed the blueline, and unleashed a high hard blast. Michigan State goaltender Chad Alban made the save, but the rebound came out to Rech who chipped the puck over the fallen Alban for his sixth goal of the season.

FIRST OVERTIME:8:47 - OSU: Andre Signoretti 2 (5) from Eric Meloche and Hugo Boisvert Ohio State scored the game-winning goal off a counter attack following two great Michigan State scoring chances. Hugo Boisvert picked up the loose puck in his own zone, skated through the neutral zone, crossed the blueline, and slid a pass to Eric Meloche, who streaked down the left boards. Meloche skated to the goalline and tried to center a pass across the goal crease, but Michigan State goaltender Chad Alban poke checked the pass away. The puck carried to Andre Signoretti at the bottom of the faceoff circle to the left of Alban. Signoretti took a slapshot which beat the Michigan State goalie to the stick side for his second goal of the game and fifth of the season.